*** ****** ****

Vernon Hills, IL *****

Cell: 312-***-****

Email: ad2kjg@r.postjobfree.com

Matthew C. Smerge

Qualifications

** ***** ************ ***** ********** in the Chicago market

Proven sales performer/leader with extensive experience working with restaurant owners and management

Success managing diverse sales teams, vendors and support

Relationship builder with honest and trustworthy reputation

Superior negotiation and account management proficiencies

Talented writer/editor with exceptional communication skills

Creative, well organized, detail oriented and able to meet goals

Relevant Experience

Heartland Payment Systems, a Global Payments Company Chicago, IL

Division Manager: April 2022-Present

Lead division within defined territory in the Chicago market

Manage a team of Territory Managers (TM) and Relationship Managers (RM) responsible for the direct sale of Heartland’s payment solutions and related products

Grew team from zero to six producers within 12 months

Oversee payments/merchant services solutions to local/regional businesses working directly with owners and company executives

Source, recruit and hire TMs and RMs within the division

Scale a team with month-over-month growth

Responsible for development of territory managers and sales reps

Deliver a replicable growth strategy that produces margin and builds infrastructure for Heartland’s current and future goals

Manage and achieve division’s production goals on a monthly basis

Produce daily and weekly division level emails (production updates, important announcements, celebratory emails)

Lead weekly division level calls & monthly meetings

Train TMs on building business plans for RMs

Daily coaching calls with reps

Responsible for activity in the field

Develop partner relationships with CPAs, COIs, and associations

Provide guidance to team on multiple product distribution

Guidance for division to execute with corporate training resources

Worldpay from FIS Chicago, IL

Regional Account Executive: November 2016-April 2022

Provide payments/merchant services solutions to local/regional businesses working directly with owners and company executives

Negotiate and sign 10+ new deals per month

Hit revenue and deal count target goals for 25 consecutive months

Prospect new opportunities on a daily basis through networking and cold calling efforts

Build relationships with financial center and business banking partners to cultivate opportunities with both new and existing clients

Give presentations at monthly regional bank manager meetings

Sell numerous POS, software, ecommerce & gateway solutions

Excellent statement analysis skills to help convert customers and close deals

Provide superior customer service to guide new clientele through the boarding, installation and activation processes and beyond

Utilize Salesforce for all sales management activities including opportunities, forecasting, contracts and activations

Viamedia Chicago, IL

Senior Account Executive/Team Leader: December 2004-December 2015

Offer marketing solutions via strategically designed cable television & online advertising packages sold to local businesses & ad agencies

Prospect and develop new business leads and sales opportunities

Develop sustained relationships with advertising clients, emphasizing the achievement of long-term marketing goals through consistent branding and growth over time

Execute the sales process to produce a high closing rate and successfully maintain accounts to ensure a superior retention rate and annual growth

Exceptional understanding of cable TV networks and programming

Ability to sell deep in order to maximize inventory on 60+ networks

Specialize in selling sports packages (NFL, Cubs, White Sox, Blackhawks, Bulls, NCAA etc.)

Online marketing consultant with expertise in pre-roll video, AdWords, AdMessenger, banner advertising and social media

Built and manage list of more than 25 active accounts

Work with numerous high-profile area companies/clients and C-level executives and business owners

Entertain clients frequently at lunches, dinners, sporting events, etc.

Mentor and help train new Account Executives and attend colleagues’ needs analysis and pitch meetings upon request

Team leader in Chicago office; helped launch Arlington Heights office and assist AEs there when needed

Help coordinate team outings and annual golf event

Frequently participate in the creative process and the development of new video advertising campaigns/concepts

Have appeared as talent in more than 40 local TV spots and record voiceovers as needed/requested by clients

Sales Achievements:

Consistently meets or exceeds monthly and annual budget goals

Placed in Top Ten company-wide in annual upfront sales contests each year between 2006 and 2015, winning top prizes three times

Won annual NFL sales contest twice, hitting 210% & 330% of goal

Peak Performer Award monthly winner 14 times

CAB Sales Achievement Finalist 2011 – Gale Street Inn

Left Field Media/Ballpark Publications Chicago, IL

Publisher/Editor/Sales Director: Jan. 1997-Present

Managing Editor/Writer of Chicago Baseball from 1997-2013; named Sales Director in 1999; became Publisher in 2014

Ballpark Sales Director leading team of 10-12 sales people

Wrote 1000+ articles, columns and feature interviews for Chicago Baseball, Game Time and Ballpark Monthly magazines covering teams including the Chicago Cubs, White Sox, Bulls and Blackhawks, Cleveland Indians, Colorado Rockies & Atlanta Braves

Interviewed numerous Chicago players, coaches and personalities

Editorial responsibilities include: proofread and edit all copy, choose photos, supervise layout, assign stories to writers & set deadlines

Manage editorial staff including two assistant editors & five writers

Initiate marketing and promotion strategies for Chicago Baseball

Managed Chicago Baseball’s advertising sales from 1998-2021; grew monthly publication from 24 to 52 pages as advertising more than quadrupled during that span; increased ad revenue by 630%

Developed long-term relationships with advertising clients; held a 80-90% year-to-year client retention rate from 2000 to 2021

Oversee layout and design; coordinate production and printing

Advertising Agency: Jan. 2016-Present

Negotiate and book ad placement on broadcast and cable TV, radio, digital and print media

Provide creative services as needed from concept and scripting through production and post

Education

University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Bachelor of Arts in Cinematography/Screenwriting (Minor in Journalism)

Illinois Center for Broadcasting

Certificate in Radio and TV Broadcasting

Contact this candidate